A Structured VAPT Methodology for Cloud-Native Applications

Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) is often reduced to running automated scanners and generating a report. But a thorough VAPT engagement follows a structured methodology that combines automated scanning with manual exploitation to find real, exploitable vulnerabilities.

Phase 1: Reconnaissance

Gather as much information as possible about the target — subdomains, open ports, services, technologies, and API endpoints. Tools like Nmap, Amass, and Wappalyzer help map the attack surface. The more you know, the more targeted your testing can be.

Phase 2: Vulnerability Scanning

Run automated scanners to identify known vulnerabilities quickly. Nessus for network-level findings, OWASP ZAP or Burp Suite for web applications, and Trivy for container images. Treat scanner output as a starting point — not the final word.

Phase 3: Manual Exploitation

This is where the real value lies. Manually verify scanner findings, test for business logic flaws, and chain vulnerabilities together. Burp Suite is the workhorse here. Focus on OWASP Top 10 categories: injection, broken authentication, access control, and misconfiguration.

Phase 4: Reporting

A good report is actionable. For each finding, include: a clear description, severity rating, reproduction steps, evidence, and remediation guidance. Prioritize findings by real risk, not just CVSS scores. Include an executive summary for non-technical stakeholders and a detailed technical section for engineers.